VALKYRIE BRINGING STRONG CONTINGENT TO BC

It's that time of year again, and Valkyrie is proud to announce our strongest group of Breeders' Cup entries in the farm's history. Every Breeder's Cup race Y18 will have a Valkyrie representative, and we couldn't be more proud of the way the entire string has performed this year. While it will be a sad final bow for most of the senior horses, it can only be hoped that they'll go out with a bang.

Juvenile Fillies Turf: Likely the longest shot of our BC hopefuls, Malibu Star will be taking her shot in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. The daughter of Malibu King has four wins this year, one over turf, and has run in six HOTY-level races. Her best finish to date was a third in the turf Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante* in only her second start back in January. While she's had trouble hitting the board in HOTY races, she would make a lovely dark horse with all of the experience she's gained this year.

Filly and Mare Sprint: Two horses will be competing for the start in this race, so the next month will be very important for them. Luminous Wave is the likely starter, with six HOTY wins this year, including the Quebec Stakes* and other races against males. She's got a stellar resume, and barring extreme circumstances she's likely won her spot. The challenger is Blue Moon, a filly that will potentially be seen again next year. She's got eight wins this year, including her last two starts, both HOTY races. If she wins out in her November races and Luminous Wave does not, we may see this very talented filly sniping the seasonal curtain call from the retiring Luminous Wave.

Filly and Mare Turf Sprint: This field will be challenged by Sugar Rush, an unlikely runner who was nearly retired earlier this year. However, the classy, well-bred daughter of Sweet Sugar Cane has shown her good stock and has nabbed two HOTY races and great consistency in high level races since hitting G1 status. She's more than punched her ticket for the race, though she'll likely be a longshot.

Juvenile Fillies: Going off as one of the favorites will be Radiant Heat, the first runner of champion Sweet Inferno. The filly hasn't finished worse than second in any of her races since June, and has won an amazing six HOTY races this year against strong competition. Hera will definitely be a horse to beat in the biggest 2yo fillies race of the year.

Filly and Mare Turf: Coming in after a hard-knocking season last year is Sweet Mimosa, who has really come into herself to win four tough HOTY races so far this year. She's run and won against colts, and spent the first half of the year knocking elbows with the best of the entire turf division. Osa has more than won this spot before retirement and a date with Royal Assassin.

Distaff: Earthly Witch has grown into an absolutely unstoppable freight train the second half of the year, and she doesn't look to be in any mood to stop now. After winning the first and third legs of the Canadian Triple Tiara, Era has won two additional HOTY races, both against older fillies and mares. Earthly Witch looks to be every bit the worthy, mature competitor capable of taking down the distaff division.

Juvenile Turf Sprint: A solid front runner in her division this year, Winter has once again disproved the backwards idea that created horses can't compete at the same level as the tried and true lineages. The grey filly has won five races, three of them HOTY, and hasn't finished out of the money in any of her fifteen starts.

Juvenile Sprint: If there was ever a horse to live up to prodigal breeding, it's Masquerade. He has won from 6-8 furlongs, winning over not one, not two, but three surfaces this year with ease. However, he's favored dirt, and that is where he will make his Breeders' Cup start. This gorgeous son of Mastermind and Requiem is more than we ever could have hoped for, and honestly we're just here for the ride.

Marathon: Did we say Malibu Star was the biggest longshot of the group? Scratch that, that honor likely falls to the Valkyrie homebred gelding Hurricane. While on paper he's had better HOTY finishes that the juvenile, Hurricane will likely face much stiffer competition. However, we believe in his progress and his ability, and think he deserves a shot at this highest honor.

Turf Marathon: For awhile there was internal debate on whether to send Laddie Luck or Roses Rampant to this race. However, while Lad is very good at distance, he's equally as strong at the classic distance while Roses Rampant has absolutely thrived at the marathon distances. The filly will face colts for her final preps of the season, and will hopefully make a strong showing in the last race of her career.

Juvenile Turf: War of the Worlds has had a rather hit-or-miss season, but he's still very well accomplished and we feel he stands as good a chance as any to bring home the prize. The first foal of dual-classic winner Dare To Impress, War looks like he may well follow in his dam's footsteps next year. He has won three HOTY races this year and been competitive in many others, and seems to be going into the Breeders' Cup fairly strong.

Dirt Mile: One of the more surprising stories this year, Proletariat has found some of his early-career form, though not in the expected area. Instead of excelling in distance races, Loki has developed an incredible fondness for the mile, and that is where we've chosen to slate him for the biggest races of the year. This will be his final performance as well.

Turf Sprint: One might say that Wings of Jayde isn't ready to face the boys with her recent foray into G1 competition, but we would respectfully disagree. This talented filly made G1 her last out in open competition, and she's bred to be a force to reckon with. She will continue to face open competition until the big day.

Juvenile: This entry should come as no surprise to anyone. Gallantry will spearhead the Valkyrie contingent like the bold warhorses he believes himself to be. This colt, the first son of already-proven broodmare Enchantress, is showing himself to be her most successful foal yet - as least in terms of precociousness. He has won seven races, six of them HOTY, in a number of very large fields. He has taken this year's hard division and devoured it, never finishing out of the money yet. We can only hope that he'll finish out his season just as beautifully.

Sprint: We definitely didn't think we'd have a duel for the Sprint at the beginning of the year, and yet here we are. This assignment will almost surely go to Toss Up, as he has been a stalwart and steadfast competitor all year. Especially if he finishes strong in November, we will surely be seeing him the last week of December. However, there is a long chance that The Good Fight could usurp his stablemate if he were to win out until the BC - but only if then. The colt has been doing exceptionally well - well enough that, perhaps, he may earn himself the incredibly rare double-entry for Valkyrie into a BC race. November will be a key month for both of these horses.

Mile: Flawless Majesty is constantly a bit of a conundrum, but it's clear that he's found at least some of the form of his youth this year. While he can still be a bit inconsistent, he's still an incredibly strong competitor, and has more than earned his right to compete in this, his final race.

Turf: As previously mentioned, Laddie Luck will be taking on the best of the best in the Turf this year. He's had a bit of a drought since July as far as wins, but we're prepping him up for a strong final couple of races leading into the BC.

Classic: Uno Momento has been incredibly consistent this year, even if the wins have utterly eluded him. He's been quite the enigma, but it begs the question - is this champion just waiting until the perfect moment to show his hand? We can only hope.


So there you have it! There will be no Valkyrie-judged BC races this year. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Breeders' Cup!